Arson Team Investigating Second Fire on TV Hill

A Santa Barbara firefighter douses hots spots Tuesday night at a blaze that broke out along Loma Alta Drive below TV Hill. It was the second fire in two nights in the area that investigators believe were deliberately set. (Urban Hikers photo)

Arson investigators have their hands full after another fire broke out on TV Hill on Tuesday night, just blocks from where a blaze had threatened homes the night before.

On Tuesday night, a blaze broke out at 8:30 p.m., this one also on TV Hill off Loma Alta, about four blocks from the original fire.

“We’re looking at these fires as deliberately set,” said Joe Poire, fire marshal for the City of Santa Barbara.

There was speculation that the fire may have been caused by transients in the area, and TV Hill has been the site of homeless camps in the past.

“We never viewed Monday as a campfire,” he said, adding that the department is asking for anyone with any information about the fire to come forward. “We know there are a couple of witnesses that were there that we haven’t heard from.”

For example, he said, one young man came up after the first witness and took several cell phone pictures of the fire and left.

“We’re interested in talking with him not only to have a look at the pictures but also to hear what he saw,” Poire said.

Anyone with information about the fires is encouraged to call the Santa Barbara City Fire Department at 805.965.5254.

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